Knut the polar bear is a 'psychopath addicted to human company and will never mate'

Last updated at 13:20 24 January 2008

Knut the 13-month-old polar bear is a "psychopath" who has become addicted to human company and will never mate, experts warn.

Berlin Zoo's most famous resident caused a sensation when he arrived in March last year but he is now the focus of a major debate about the rights of caged animals.

German activist, Frank Albrecht, claims animals born in captivity become so dependent on man that they end up divorced from nature and turn into hyperactive, disturbed freaks.

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"Knut is a problem bear who has become addicted to human beings," Mr Albrecht told The Independent.

Zoologist Peter Arras went further, describing Knut as a "psychopath".

The debate has grown following the birth of three polar bear cubs at Nuremberg Zoo to two different female bears.

A team of highly experienced zoologists initially argued that nature must be allowed to take its course.

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They allowed one of the females, Vera, which had rejected its two cubs, to kill and eat her offspring because they were too weak to survive.

The giant bear was seen carrying one cub by the scruff of her neck.

Within hours of the images being broadcast, Nuremberg Zoo had performed a complete policy U-turn: a keeper was sent into Vera's enclosure and Flocke was removed "for its own safety".

Amid growing fears that the last remaining cub might also be eaten the zoo promptly announced that the cub would be fed from a bottle.

"I don't think anyone could have stood it, if we had allowed our last bear cub to be eaten by its mum," said Nuremberg's deputy mayor.

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Without Knut, it is unlikely that the events at Nuremberg would have taken the course that they have.

He was also rejected by his mother, a disturbed circus bear called Tosca, and like the Nuremberg bear, faced the prospect of being eaten.

Enter Thomas Dörflein. Within days Knut was placed in the 44-year-old Berlin zookeeper's care. Mr Dörflein instantly fulfilled the role of Knut's surrogate mother, hand-feeding his charge day and night.

When Knut first appeared in public in March last year, there were more than 500 journalists present. The Knut marketing machine shifted into top gear.

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The first 2,400 Knut stuffed toys produced by the zoo sold out in four days. Within a matter of weeks Knut was sharing the front cover of Vanity Fair magazine with Leonardo DiCaprio.

But Knut faces an uncertain and lonely future.

The German media like to think Flocke holds the key to his salvation and that she will eventually become his mate.

But for most zoologists the idea is pure fantasy. "Knut won't manage anything with a female bear, I guarantee that," insisted Dr Arras.